Necrosyrtes monachus.
This is the only really common species of volture in West Africa. Seldom seen far from towns and villages, where it is a valuable scavenger.
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Common or Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus. This is the only really common species of volture in West Africa. Seldom seen far from towns and villages, where it is a valuable scavenger. |
| Recognition: Very large (though smaller than most voltures). The plumage is molted dark brown. Facial part of the head, throat and front of neck are devoid of feathers and pink to purple in colour. In soaring flight the rounded tail and separated wing-tip feathers are characters to note. |
| Distribution: Common throughout the savannah of West Africa and has a very interesting sporadic occurrence within the forest zone also. |
| Habits: Usually gregarious. When perched in a tree or on a roof top it adopts a characteristic hunched-up pose. Soars on motionless wings in warm uprising air-currents. When a soaring bird discovers food its descent to it is noted by others so that several birds soon collect. It nests during the dry season. |
| Call: None known, except for food begging cries of the young. |
